Reception of Exodus in the Book of Judith

Agnethe Siquansʼ chapter is remarkable in terms of methodological reflections and their application to the Book of Judith. The reception of Exodus in speeches, prayers, and parallel narrative structures of both books and the main protagonists are in the speeches explored. The Song of Moses and Miriam at the Sea (Exod 15) is the most important intertext with Exodus on the Book of Judith (Jdt 9:7–8; 16:2), but it is also formative for the whole Book. In addition, three aspects of the reception of Exodus in Judith are examined, which have not yet been noticed (midwives episode and Mosesʼ nativity story, acknowledging the true God; innocence of the Israelites). It becomes clear that the Exodus narrative is a theological and literary paradigm for the author of Judith to communicate his message: Israelʼs God saves his people through the hand of a woman. One further research result is that the Book of Judith refers to the Septuagint version of Exodus.